Points of Interest: Built in 1973 as the Paul Thayer, she bucked the trend of building 1,000-foot superships. She and her "river class" sisters, Calumet and Robert S. Pierson, could maneuver the rivers and tight harbors where the "footers" could not. In 2007, the three ships were purchased from Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Co. by Lower Lakes Towing. The Earl W was renamed Manitowoc.